Nail holder



l. N. WILLIAMS NAIL HOLDER Oct. 23, 1928.

Filed June 25, 1927 Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

- UNITED STATES ISAAC I v. WILLIAMS,

or ron'rz, INDIANA.

NAIL HOLDER. 7

Application filed June 23,

a This invention relates tonail holders and aims among other obj ects to provide animproved tool for holding nails to bedrlven through the ridges or crests of the corrugations of corrugated sheet metal roofing and the like. i

In the accompanying drawing showing a preferred form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of'a nail holder embodying my improvements showing it in nail holding position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken between the jaws of the tool shown in 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and.

F ig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of holder.

In nailing on metal roofing and siding it is necessary to drive the nails in the crests of the corrugationsto avoidln'iaking leaking holes in the channels. Heretofore much difficulty has been experienced in driving nails through the ridges because they slip off easily and, sometimes make holes in the channels. This'invention aims to provide a tool that will hold a nail in the center of a ridge and also may be used to press the sheet down or against the sheathing.

To theseends I have shown a pair of curved gripping jaws 1O pivotedtogether at one end and having means for gripping a, nail at the other end. Herein one of the jaws is shown as having a bossll projecting toward the other jaw and having a shallow groove 12 in its face to receive a nail, while the other jaw has a smooth face 13 'at its end to engage the opposite side of the nail.

The jaw having the boss 11 is shown as having an extension 14 beyond the nail gripping portion with its edge curved to conform to the. standard curvature of the corrugations of the corrugated sheet metal and the lower end or edge of the boss is curved so that, when the extension is held in the position shown, the nail is properly centered on the corrugation and is ready to be driven straight in.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the hinged portion of the jaws is shown as comprising a pair of ears 15 on one jaw adapted to receive between them a lug 16 on the other jaw so that the outer edges of the ears acting against the inner face of the opposed jaw will per-- mit only a slight hinging movement; a little more than enough to provide for the insertion of a nail in the gripping portion of the 1927.. Serial No. 200,886.

jaws. This arrangement prevents the jaws from being opened and spread out so that they will have to be adjusted to the proper position to grip a nail, requiring some loss of time.

Further referring to Figs. 1 and 2 and to the shape of the handle portionlot' the jaws, it will'be noted that the bend of the handle portion'is such that it may be gripped or grasped in one hand of the user and the hand is entirely outside of the path of the driving hammer being used in the other hand.

Moreover, pressure applied to the handle portion will serve to press any buckled sheets of corrugated sheet metal against the surface to which they are to be nailed. Some sheets are damaged in shipment or are bent before they are applied. V 1,

Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown an adaptation of the invention to V-shaped crimped roofing or siding. In, this instance, the roof engaging edge of one of the jaws is made V-shaped to correspond with the angles of inclination of the crimps to accurately crimps.

' From the foregoing description it will be seen that this invention provides a Very useful'tool adapted to hold nails for app1ying sheet metal roofing or siding and for other purposes. It eliminates the danger of mashing fingers due to the points of the nails slipping on the corrugation when the are held. between the index finger and thum according to the old custom. Moreover, it holds a nail in exactly the ri ht position to be started through the crest of a corrugation and can quickly be released from the nail,

after it is started, by releasing the gripping pressure on the jaws. Further, it eliminates the damaging of sheetsduring application because of misplaced hammer blows or because of slipping nails driven in the grooves instead of the crests.

center nails on the ridges of the Obviously the present invention is not re- 7 stricted to the particular embodiment'thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all .the features of the invention be used ,conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

What I claim is:

1. A device for holding nails to be driven through corrugated sheets comprising a pair of curved gripping jaws hinged at one end for limited pivotal movement; means at the other end for grasping and holding a nail to be guided into the crest of acorrugation; and a curved edge associatedwith one of said jaws adapted to conform to the curvature of the corrugation and ensure centering the nail on the crest thereof.

2. A device for holding nails to be driven through roofing sheets and the like comprising, in combination; a pair of curved jaws hinged at one end for limited pivotal movelnent; nail gripping means at the other end includingfa grooved bosson one of said j aws and a cooperating surface onthe other jaw; one of said jaws having an extension so shaped on its lower edge as to conform to a corrugation and guide the nail through the crest thereof.

3. A device for holding nails to be driven through corrugated sheets and the like comprising, incombination a pair of curved jaws pivoted together at one end and presenting a handleor hand-gripping portion; gripping means ad j acent to the other endof said jaws including an integral boss on one of the jaws presenting a nail holding groove and a nail graspingportion on the end of the other jaw; and a projection extending leeyondthe gripping portion having a lower edge shaped to conform to a corrugation whereby to position a nail: centrally on the crest thereof. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing ISAAC N. WIL IAMS; 

